The key to a natural-looking rhinoplasty result is to focus on your face.. not your nose!

The key to a natural-looking rhinoplasty result is to focus on your face.. not your nose!

I personally believe the single most important factor contributing to a natural appearance following rhinoplasty is maintaining naso-facial harmony. Simply put… at the end of the procedure, does the nose look like it belongs on a particular face? If the answer is yes, then more often than not, the results will be very natural-looking.

Another important point to keep in mind is that every patient who electively chooses to undergo rhinoplasty (nose job) is doing it with hopes of looking better. Typically, in these cases, the nose has some specific feature that is distracting from the overall attractiveness of the face.

For example a nose can appear to be too long, too short, too wide or too thin, but only relative to THAT individuals facial features. The same nose could potentially look perfect on another person’s face.This is where rhinoplasty surgery gets interesting and really demanding. Suddenly it’s no longer about the nose. It’s about the face and the artistic and technical acumen of the surgeon to bring it all together.

The best example of this is with ethnic rhinoplasty. Often, attempts are made to create an ideal nose on a Middle-Eastern, Asian, or African-American patient. But if the “ideal” that is being followed is based on the Caucasian nose, the end result is an unnatural appearance that screams “rhinoplasty.” When this occurs, the disharmony between the nose and the rest of the facial features distracts and detracts from the individual’s overall attractiveness.

Furthermore, I find that the majority of patients are not far from their “individual” ideal, and subtle refinement is all it takes to tone down a harsh hump or gently reduce the width of a nose, etc. Really listening to the patient’s desires and working with the intrinsic anatomy as opposed to trying to totally re-design it are important factors in achieving excellent natural-looking rhinoplasty results.

As a consumer, the first step is to look for a well-trained rhinoplasty specialist. Next, evaluate the before and after photos carefully. Even ask to have the opportunity to visit with previous patients. Then, ask yourself the following questions:

Do the results look natural?

Do the faces look more attractive as a result of the change? Although, it seems like it should every time, the reality is, even if the nose looks better, it doesn’t mean the overall look has been enhanced. Finally, do the results appear similar to one another? Some surgeons have a signature style or more bluntly.. a cookie-cutter nose that is produced for essentially every case. Often, these noses are not the most natural-appearing… since there is no such thing as a “one size fits all” nose.

Dr. Karam, who is board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and American Board of Otolaryngology, offers services in San Diego County including San Diego, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, Encinitas, Rancho Bernardo and La Jolla in Southern California.

If you are ready to schedule an appointment with Dr. Karam, contact us today.

RE-OPENING UPDATE

We are now open and have resumed services in the office. The safety of both our staff and patients remains our number one priority and with this in mind we have put in new measures to provide the highest level of protection possible to keep our patients and staff healthy and safe.

New Enhancements

Patient appointments will be scheduled thoughtfully spaced to reduce the number of people in our office and to effectively eliminate wait times.

You will be greeted by a staff member, who will screen all patients and staff that enter our office.

We require our staff and patients wear masks throughout your visit.

Payments, consents and scheduling will be executed virtually to minimize checkout lines and to expedite the process.

Surgical patients will be required to receive a pre-operative COVID test prior to their surgery date.

We will still continue to provide virtual consultations for our patients around the country and those that prefer to have consultations done from the comfort of their home. Please contact us today to set up your virtual consultation.